Dristen will move away from the water so that the others are not in his range.
The half-orc sounded the death knell for the creature. A queer gurgling bubbled-up from its lengthy throat, the small almost-meal deposited in a pool of fluid at the creature's base in its final moments. Blood of a more copper shade gushed forth from its mouth; some internal rupture had occurred.
Though its base was planted in the sand, the top of the worm fell onto the surface, seizing about. Some of the blood also came from Sal's projectile wound, but most leaked out onto the sand. Its thrashing gradually subsided, death taking its hold.
Combat's rush formed a tighter bond around the heroes on the island. Seeing this, a green glint took flight into the night.
Exhausted, covered in blood, the deep gnome finally extricates herself from the worms vomit. "I hope this thing doesn't have a mate anywhere nearby."
Haggin will aid Saladraxis, helping her out from the beast. Are you alright, my dear? I've never seen such a thing! I'm so glad you weren't eaten! Haha!
Demon worms!I'm glad you're ok gnome! I hit that thing as hard as I could!
"Covered in bile and blood, nearly breakfast for a giant worm. I would say I am doing better than OK. I am still alive. Now let us find its kivanyii."
Ariston frowns at the odd colloquialism. "You think a worm like that is likely to have one? I'd certainly be glad for it - after that fight, a reward would be nice. Though perhaps we should be thankful simply for our survival. And here, have this. It'll fix some of your hurts." He hands Sal an extract of Cure Light Wounds, and then drinks one himself. He heads towards the border of beach and jungle, and begins to gather aloe.
"Thank you kindly sir. I find most things that don't collect treasure directly tend to collect it in their meals."
In their meals? You suggest to slice this thing open and see what's inside? Haggin shudders at the thought. You could have been part of the treasure!
Does that mean you saw some treasure in there? I would be will to cut some out.
As you gaze into the maw of the creature, you realize cutting it apart would take some time. It should be safe enough though, as avoiding the jagged teeth is doable with its present size.
Well, if we are going to do this, my Curveblade will certainly work as a filetting knife on a large scale.
Filios wades in and begins to slice open the beast.
Well, if we are going to do this, my Curveblade will certainly work as a filetting knife on a large scale.
Filios wades in and begins to slice open the beast.
Peeling the beast open, it's clear there were other meals before you. Most of the stomach contents are sludge with pieces of bone or metal interspersed. The most recent addition is wearing armor though - and missing a head.
The armor did a decent job of preserving the body within, its stature as a human male visible. Inside one of the now-corroded chain gloves is an unscathed ring. Further searching reveals a note inside the man's shirt.
Ariston, having gathered his aloe, returns to the group. When the body is revealed, he nods knowingly and grins mirthlessly. "Well, at least we know where the rest of our bodiless friend went." He plucks the ring off the hand and holds it up to the light, examining it. "Can anyone make some appraisal of this ring? Haggin, you are our resident jeweler, perhaps you can take a look at it?" He holds it out to the gnome.
Umm, sure, if you could clean it up a bit for me, ugh.
Haggin will take the ring and give it a good once-over.
I will also cast Detect Magic on the ring and the rest of what we find in the beast.
Well that's a dainty baubble! So where should we head to now, we can let one demon wurm stop us can we!? We've got plenty of land left yet to stretch our legs on! Where there's armor there are civilized warriors, and where there are civilized warriors, there's civilization!
Filios steps away from the iviscerated corpse and heads down to the water to clean the gore from himself and his blade.
Well, at least we found something in there.
The ring is very well-crafted, the gem perfectly flush with the torus of the band. However, for such a precise setting, the star was rather anticlimactic - a piece of quartz. You imagine such a piece might fetch between 200 and 400 gold, depending on the bent of the buyer. Besides the street value to the mundane, it seems the ring also has an aura of abjuration that would protect the wearer.
Fatigue begins to set in as the adrenaline of battle wanes.
Dristen watches attentively as the others move through the worm carcass. He watches as Haggin stares intently at the ring. As Haggin mumbles something, he decides to take a closer look at the ring. He casts detect magic and notices the abjuration spell. He keeps digging into the aura.
Some sort of abjuration magic it seems, but maybe Haggin can figure out what it does. While he still has detect magic cast he looks at the other pieces that were discovered in the worm.
How far do we want to press on tonight? I've never seen anything like that and I don't know that I want to fight another one this late at night.
Can someone scope out an appropriate campsite?
I'll look around see if I can find us something
Dristen hurries after Gansukh towards the trees. Here let me help you. I can provide a light.
The jungle is very thick. There is no clearing or large boulder or other obvious structure in the jungle to make an obvious camp. However, some broken stems and disturbed brush indicate passage of something perhaps person-sized in the recent past. It's hard to tell much more in the moonlight though.
Hmm, I can't get a very good line on worth the gems and such would be worth, however this does have an enchantment. I wouls say that this little bauble would, how should I say this, would shield others from being able to detect the aura of your soul. Maybe that's the best way to put it.
Haggin will offer the ring to whoever wants to take the next look at it, if no one does then he'll just hold on to it for now.
What kind of person cares about such diviniations that they must hide their core like that! We are probably dealing with fiends and their allies!
Dristen returns from the jungle with Gansukh. He stops to think, uncomfortable about the situation that they are in. Do we stay here on the beach for the night? Or space out in the dense jungle? Or follow the tracks down the beach? Or follow the tracks into the jungle. He doesn't like the last one, so he eliminates that from the list. He tries to make his voice confident but serious.
Alright, there doesn't seem to be any real hospital area in the nearby area to settle down for the night. We could keep following the tracks but I still think we should stop here for the night. Darkness is more likely to help our foes than us, and I think we can all feel the fatigue of a long day.
"A person hiding their nature from demons would care about such things. In case we need to go in front of any who would wish us harm for our very nature, this will be useful."
Now there's some smart thinking! He slaps the runt on the back That's the kind of crafty thinking we need folks like you for I suppose!
So, where is the best place to set up camp?
back on the boat I'd say, it's not a long row back
I agree, its safer on the boat.
Dristen sighs. They all wanted to leave the boat when I want to stay for the night and now they want to go back to the boat. These people are fickle. Maybe Sal and Ariston will stay the course.
"I don't think leaving is necessary. Safer, perhaps, but we came here to sate our curiosity about this place and to rest our feet on dry land once again. I have not yet had enough of the latter, and I would be loath to leave when we have leads on the former. I say we camp here for the night." Here Ariston cracks a smile. "Besides, how many giant worms can one island have?"
Yeah. I do not relish a return to the water. I have made landfall, and I do not care to return unless this place is utterly inhabitable.
In the time you've taken to chit chat, not much else is heard on the island. The mild breeze blows occasionally, but other than that and the water on the shore, that's all there is to hear. Perhaps closer to the treeline, insects could be heard. Besides the newcomers, nothing moves on the island.
Perhaps we can just explore further and then row back in the morning, it's what 20minutes to the ship? it'd take that long to set up a proper camp! Besides, aside from that wurm this place seems pretty quiet.
"I would rather keep boot on soil. We have fought hard for this beach spot, we can not just let the predators move back in."
The group makes camp on the shore - a bit more inward so as to not wake to a soggy bedroll. The stars twinkle above as sleep takes you.
********
A red rising sun wakes you, a small front of clouds moving in from the west. Night was uneventful, but morning brings about the noises of birds in the trees. Those venturing nearby the edge of the jungle also hear insects.
The tracks on the sand lead a small footpath - only a person wide - into the jungle. Though it is morning now, the canopy would cast a veil of cool shade over the party. It would necessitate traveling single file if any real pacing were to be kept, however.
I'll take point folks, have no fear! he leads the group onto the tracks
I will take the second position behind Gansukh.
Filios looks about carefully as they advance. He draws his Curveblade as he moves forward.
Dristen will follow, taking his spot at the back.
Haggin will try to secure a spot toward the center of the pack. WHat a fine morning, let's hope it ends just as well.
Sal takes up a flanking position to Filios, a little on the outside right so as to have a clear view of the road. "Why are you all lining up single file?"
The path is narrow, Sal. If you can squeeze in, go ahead.
Sal takes up a position covering the rear, eyes scanning the canopy and surrounding jungle in case something wants to make her a snack.
Ariston catches up just before the group sets out.
"My apologies for the tardiness. I was tending to my mixtures. I also think I've finally worked out the specifics of one that will perhaps be most useful in the coming days."
He takes up a position behind Haggin, but in front of Dristen and Sal. "No sense in having too many large bodies up front. We'll only get in each others' way."